About the ICCG |
What is arctic char? |
Why save arctic char? |
Where do they occur? |
Threats to arctic char |
How you can help |

Arctic Char in Ireland
All Irish populations are confined to freshwater lakes, although in more northerly countries they migrate to sea in a similar manner to salmon.

Most populations occur in deep mountain lakes in the west from Donegal to Kerry, e.g, L.Eske (top) and L. Coomasaharn (bottom).

Into the last century populations existed in the midlands and along the east coast, but all of these are now probably extinct.

World Wide Distribution
The arctic char has the most northerly geographic distribution of any freshwater fish. The centre for distribution of arctic char in which it reaches its maximum density is the frozen coastline of the Arctic Ocean. The southerly extent of their range approximates that of the extent of winter sea ice, roughly between 64° and 65° N.
Arctic char are at the extreme limit of their southerly distribution in Ireland.

The Arctic Circle
Arctic char from the arctic circle display the most dramatic colors during the spawning season. The male char (bottom) is in typical spawning livery.

These fish would have fed at sea among the icebergs of the high north. Here they form an important part of the diet of the the Innuit.

Arctic Char in Europe
Arctic char in Europe are also under threat. In the past few decades more char populations have been lost to pollution and development than in the previous centuries. This makes the remaining populations all the more valuable and vulnerable. Unfortunately, there are few projects in these countries which aim to protect their remaining populations of char.